AASHTO's annual photo/video competition

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The Fortify construction project is part of a 10-year plan to strengthen North Carolina’s roadways and alleviate traffic congestion in the Triangle. The southern portion of I-40/I-440 is 30 years old and needs repair. This photo, taken on a bitterly cold February night, depicts the dedicated workers on that project.

And that means more opportunities to get out and take some awesome photos. When you finally get all your gear together (or not: remember we’re taking social media entries as well!), keep an eye out for people using, building, and/or enjoying this country’s transportation infrastructure.

That’s right. We’re now accepting entries for this year’s photo contest from social media. That means you can submit a photo via Facebook (AASHTOspeaks), Twitter (aashtospeaks), and Instagram (aashtospeaks). (Can you tell what our handle is?)

If you do send us a photo via these platforms, we will need a couple of pieces of information from you beyond that, including a model release for the identifiable people in your picture. You can find that form in the menu above. (It can either be part of a simple entry through the button above, or can be sent to faces@transportation.org directly…)

This is our first year accepting entries via social media, so let us know how we’re doing!

WASHINGTON – The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials annual Faces of Transportation photography and video contest is marking its 13th year with a twist. Song titles will define the four categories used in the photography portion of the competition and social media participation is being strongly encouraged this year.

“Transportation is about people,” said Lloyd Brown, AASHTO communications director. “This competition’s goal is to focus on the people who build, maintain and use the transportation system that serves as the backbone of our strong economy and high quality of life.”

In the song title category “Highway Song” by Blackfoot, the photos should include people using or working on surface transportation, including but not limited to roadways, tunnels, bridges, pedestrian and bike trails. In the song title category “Sailing Away” by Christopher Cross, the photos should include people using or working on ships, boats, ferries and at waterway facilities such as ports. In the song title category “The Subway Song” by The Icarus Account, the photos should include people using or working on all things rail-related including subways and mass transit systems. The final song title category is “Watching Airplanes” by Gary Allan. The photos in this category should include people using or working in aviation. $500 cash prizes will be presented to the winners of both the People’s Choice and the Best Overall Photograph award and a $100 award is available to the winner of the best photograph submitted via social media—Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

In the video section of the competition state department of transportation employees only can enter videos produced in-house for consideration in the 2018 competition. All videos will be judged based on their ability to demonstrate excellence in storytelling. The first prize winner in the video competition will receive $150, second prize $100 and third prize $50. All of the winning videos will be featured on AASHTO Transportation TV and AASHTO’s YouTube Channel.

Winning video and photography submissions must prominently feature people designing, constructing, using and enjoying the nation’s multimodal transportation system. All entries must represent the positive effects of all modes of transportation on individuals and communities. Photographs and videos which include recognizable individuals must be accompanied by a model release form regardless of the category or entry method; all photos and videos must include a caption that describes the scene. Failure to meet these requirements may lead to disqualification.

All entries must be received by Friday, June 15, 2018. Judging will begin on June 18. The general public will vote for the People’s Choice Award photograph on this site. Online judging will begin June 18 and end July 15, 2018.

The winners of the 2018 Faces of Transportation competition will be announced on July 20 here and on social media. Entry forms and contest rules are available in the menu above.

Two aesthetically intriguing photographs and two compelling videos won top prizes in the Faces of Transportation competition sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation officials.

The photographs depicting transportation professionals and citizens interacting with iconic symbols of the nation’s infrastructure won the Grand Prize and the People’s Choice Awards. A judge selected the Grand Prize photograph and more than 5,800 online votes decided the People’s Choice award winner.

Private citizens and state department of transportation employees from 21 states submitted 118 photographs and nine videos in the competition. The photographic entries were judged in categories new for 2017: Motor Vehicles; Pedestrians and Bicycles; Planes; Roadways and Bridges; Ships and Boats, and; Trains. Videos competed in two categories: Professional Production and In-House/Amateur/Novice.

I-55 Bridge inspection by Chris Doggett and Kevin Milligan in bucket

The Grand Prize in the photography competition was awarded to Arkansas Department of Transportation Photographer Rusty Hubbard for his photograph of two bridge inspectors scrutinizing the I-55 span between Arkansas and Tennessee.

Kenan Erdemir and Brianna Wood enjoying a walk in Smale Riverfront Park, Cincinnati, OH. Behind them is the John A. Roebling Bridge.

The People’s Choice Award was presented to photographer Nancy Wood who captured two pedestrians enjoying Smale Riverfront Park with a fantastic view of the John A. Roebling bridge in the background.

In the video competition, the Fairbanks International Airport won in the Professional Production category for its high quality production highlighting ANC Airport Airfield Maintenance.

The Nevada Department of Transportation tied itself in the In-House Production/Amateur/Novice category for two of its videos: Controlling the Snow and Going to New Heights: Galena Bridge Inspection.

The videos were judged by AASHTO Media Relations Manager Tony Dorsey, a former television reporter/anchor at the NBC station in Washington D.C.